can be looked upon as the very essence of truth and openness. I want
you to love, and not to fear me; and, there now, that's all over, we
must not make Fred miserable, so we will dine early, and start this
afternoon for a couple of hours' fishing; so bustle about, boys, and get
all the baits and tackle ready."

But they could not bustle just then, for--

But, there, I won't say anything about it, for the library door was
shut, and of course I could only be supposed to know what took place
from seeing some eyes looking rather red, and hearing noses blown rather
loudly, besides knowing that all three boys wanted dry pocket
handkerchiefs, when at last they did come out of the library, Mr Inglis
shaking hands with them as he closed the door.

As they stood upon the mat outside, "I say," said Harry, with a great
gulp something like a sob, "I say, ain't he a jolly father?"

CHAPTER NINE.

WHICH IS RATHER FISHY.

That very same afternoon, Dusty Bob was in the mill, looking dustier
than ever, and trying, as he sat upon a sack of corn that had come to be
ground, to spell out the contents of the county paper; but he did not
get on very fast, for the white or papery part had, through ill-usage,
turned very black, and the black or printed part, by means of the fine
flour dust, turned very white. Joining to this the fact that Bob was,
as he expressed it, "no skollard," it may easily be judged that he did
not arrive at very correct ideas respecting the news of the day, or
rather of the day a month ago; for Dusty Bob did not indulge in the
luxury of new news, but bought it fifth, sixth, or seventh hand, not
disdaining sometimes the piece which had come from the grocer's shop
wrapping up the pound of salt. The mill was not quite so noisy this
afternoon as upon the last occasion when we were all here together, for
the flood had gone down, and there was no rush and hurried turmoil from
the portion of the river passing down by the waste-water, while the mill
wheels turned slowly and steadily round as a sheet of crystal clearness
flowed upon them from the great dam.

"Ah, aw, yaw--yaw, aw," said Bob, bursting out into such a yawn that his
not very handsome face looked as if it had been cut in two. "Aw, yaw,
aw, aw, heigho--ha, ha--hum."

"Knock, knock; rap, rap, rap."

"Hah! more corn; more corn; more corn. Tain't no use to bring't, a bit;
for we have more noo than we've got watter for; and then yow'll come
grummle, g